Following days of protest by the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF), the
Nagaland Cabinet, on April 30, revoked the contentious regularization order of 147 Assistant Professors and Librarians, with the submission of interim report by the High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted to investigate the matter.
Addressing media persons at his Office Chamber, KG Kenye, Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affair highlighted that the government have tried to persuade the aggrieved parties and student leaders not to continue with the agitation “as it is something that can be resolved without going too far”.
“It was unfortunate that certain lapses were committed by the Higher and Technical Education Department which ‘misled’ the entire Cabinet and the government,” stated Kenye.
Emphasizing on the deliberation at different levels , the Minister informed that the cabinet received the interim report of the HPC constituted on April 21. Considering the seriousness of the matter which required cross examination, Kenye noted, the HPC was given 8 weeks initially basing on which government would take further steps.
Minister also highlighted that the HPC had to speed up and provided the Government some basis and “They feel that they have some facts to prove that this is wrong and the cabinet is convinced by the nature of this entire proceeding that something is wrong,” said Kenye.
Basing on all the proceedings, Minister also said that they had decided to revoke the regularization order basing on the HPC interim report. Expressing optimism that the aggrieved parties will call off the agitation, he said, “We shall all wait for the final report of the HPC basing on which the final decision will be taken and restore peace and normalcy in the state.”
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Kenye also claimed, “Although this not a new issue, something wrong was taking place in one of the directorates but it was never brought to the knowledge of the cabinet, until the 21st April. The government has to rely on the reports of the HPC which is yet to establish the presumptions and assumptions and govt will take action accordingly.”
Asserting that the matter was detected only after the aggrieved parties raised the issues, the Minister expressed that this was wake up call. “This escaped our notice. Cabinet will take call and not sleep over such issues. A cabinet decision is rarely revoked. The highest decision making policy is the cabinet and it is so very embarrassing for the cabinet to revoke its order,” admitted Kenye.
Minister considered the decision a big step that “the government hopefully won’t be wrong in revoking the decision”.
Responding to a question raised on why the Government took the action after days of protest, Kenye said, “Only after the aggrieved party raised their concern, we had realized that something was wrong.”
“As a cabinet, we function on faith and trust that each one is performing their duty well. Least we expected is to be irresponsible and this will lead us to such position. Sorry, but there are certain regrets,” the Minister acknowledged.
